Since the most important matter had already been resolved with the authoritative conclusion from the priestess, there was no need to linger here any longer.
The laboratory contained many strange instrunts that even Violet couldn’t understand, and the terrifying scene of severed limbs scattered on the ground, even if they were just dolls, filled her with fear and disgust, prompting a desire to leave quickly.
After placing the 【Moon Goddess’s Tear】 back on the prototype, closing the ice coffin lid to seal off the surging and terrifying heat, Ini and Eilush led Violet and her group out of the laboratory.
However, as they reached the door, the spirit doll sisters exchanged a glance and gradually stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?”
Walking at the back, Violet noticed this and slightly turned her head, just in ti to et Ini’s artificial eyes, which shimred with lancholy yet seed resolute.
“Miss Violet, could you and your companions witness the next thing for us? We feel... it’s ti to make a final decision with the past.”
A final decision?
“Of course, but what exactly are you planning to do? Are you going to completely destroy this laboratory?”
Eilush rolled her eyes at the startling suggestion from the priestess and answered on behalf of Ini.
“Of course not. The prototype fused with the Fla Lord Core is still here. If it were that easy to deal with, that old man wouldn’t have left such a ss and run away. We just want to tidy up this laboratory.”
“That’s true...”
Violet agreed, understanding the complexity and delicacy of their task.
The attitudes of different individuals within the Spirit Puppet Tribe toward these past events seem to vary significantly.
For instance, Eilush doesn’t seem to care as much about this place as Ini does, using more disdainful or distant terms for the creator and the prototype.
This is a fascinating phenonon, further proving that the ntal cores of the spirit dolls are probably not uniform copies. It appears that Ewan also has her own ideas, which led her to act independently.
“Yes, since we’re here... I have to admit, don’t laugh at , this is only my second ti truly entering this laboratory that houses 【Sister】. When Big Sister Ewan first brought here and I saw the remains made of familiar materials scattered everywhere and 【Sister】 imprisoned in the tomb, I felt a deep and uncontrollable fear. I ran away not long after.”
Ini smiled gently, but her smile seed to conceal bitterness.
“After that day, it took a long ti to recover from the shock. I chose to hide at ho and not go out, and it was my idea to build the spirit spring to seal off these underground waterways.
“To be honest, before seeing this place with my own eyes, I didn’t have a clear understanding of my identity as a 【doll】. Even though my body is artificial, I can think and feel. I regarded the creator as 【Father】 and considered those of the sa model as my sisters, always... always believing this firmly.
“I thought of myself as a living being in this world until I witnessed the horrifying scenes in this laboratory. Only then did I realize that my existence was not a 【miracle】 or a 【blessing】, but simply a stroke of luck built upon countless failures, discards, and the bones of countless 【sisters】 before .
“I was just fortunate to beco one of the successful individuals. Even so, in 【Father】’s eyes, we were no different from the countless discarded products here, still just 【dolls】 that could be thrown away at any ti.”
“The truth... has already proven this.”
“I kept telling myself and everyone else that it’s okay, that it’s alright. Even without 【Father】, the Spirit Puppet Tribe can still survive. But I have to admit that deep down, my... my ntal core’s created personality still hasn’t overco the anxiety and fear of being abandoned. That’s why I’ve always been afraid to face these 【sisters】’ remains, always avoiding going out, and trying to focus my attention as much as possible on creation.”
The clan leader of the Spirit Puppet Tribe took a deep breath, gradually dispelling the last trace of confusion from her eyes.
“It’s been too long. It’s ti to let go and step out of the shadow left by 【Father】. To be honest, I’ve been a very incompetent clan leader.”
“........”
Violet remained silent, as did everyone else. They were rely outsiders. The only thing they could do, the only thing Ini needed from them, was to listen and witness this mont with their own eyes.
That was all.
The two spirit doll girls, created through marvelous technology, began to clean up the room, which was littered with the remains of limbs.
Their movents were not fast, but even Eilush, at this mont, was exceptionally solemn and respectful, as if performing a funeral rite or a mont of silence.
They carefully placed countless human-like limbs into tal boxes stacked in the corner of the room, sealing them with a tape-like material, and then placed each box into their portable storage tools.
“Miss Violet, we...”
Edwina started to speak, but the black-haired girl shook her head and stopped her with a glance. Violet understood what this kind-hearted holy knight wanted to say and do, but there are so things in this world that can be helped, and so that cannot be interfered with.
Although their actions seed slow, Ini and Eilush were actually very efficient. Within ten minutes, they had gathered all the remaining doll limbs in the laboratory and returned to Violet and the others.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go.”
“Is that all? How are you planning to deal with these... remains? Are you going to carry them with you?”
Ini chuckled softly.
“Of course not, but we can’t do it here. Let’s leave first and then we’ll talk.”
Since she said so, Violet had no objections. Everyone left the laboratory and returned to the steamy underground river path. They retraced their steps to the disguised stone wall made of 【fusion magic alloy】 and exited to the Spirit Puppet Forest.
Having gone through this once already, no one fussed much this ti. They quickly took care of their wet clothes, dried themselves off, and then, led by Ini and Eilush, arrived at an especially sturdy old tree near the spirit spring.
The clan leader crouched down, took out a tal shovel that seed to have been prepared in advance, and dug a small hole under the tree. She took one of the boxes containing doll remains from her storage tool, solemnly buried it, and filled the hole.
Then she stood up, took out another small box from her necklace-shaped storage tool, and opened it. Inside were delicately crafted wind chis, identical to the ones hanging from the post at Ini’s house.
The girl picked up a wind chi, leaped lightly to a higher branch, carefully hung it in a conspicuous spot, and then returned to the ground.
“That’s one done. Hehe, this was a promise Big Sister left before she left, but I delayed it for so long. In the end, I couldn’t escape it.”
As if finally lifting so heavy weight off her heart, the doll girl’s lips curved into a light and relieved smile. She looked back at the group witnessing the scene, then turned and walked toward another old tree.
“Ding-a-ling~ Ding-a-ling~”
A gentle breeze blew through, making the wind chis sway and produce a clear, lodious sound that lingered in the tranquil forest... creating a beautiful resonance that seed to last forever.
Reviews
All reviews (0)